Kent, Ohio -
The Western Carolina men's basketball will play the final three games of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Thursday against host Kent State, Friday against Niagara and Saturday against USC Upstate in the M.A.C Center as the Catamounts complete a 10-day, six-game road trip.

WCU enters the tournament 3-2 after a road win, 68-63, at Liberty on November 16. Prior to the win WCU suffered back-to-back losses at No. 18 Oregon, 107-83, and at Virginia Tech November 15, 79-61. The Catamounts opened the season with consecutive wins, 77-55 over Division III Wittenberg November 8 and 74-67 over mountain rival UNC Asheville November 11.

WCU is 1-2 against Kent State, who is 3-1 on the season. WCU won the first meeting in the 2008-09 season in OT, 89-84, but the Golden Flashes have won back-to-back meetings 74-72 in the 2009-10 season and 58-56 in the 2011-12 season. Average scoring margin in the three games is three points.

WCU and Niagara have never met on the hardwood. The Purple Eagles are 1-1 on the season after a lost to Seton Hall, 83-72, and a win over Buffalo, 92-81, in their last game.

WCU and USC Upstate have never met either despite being 108 miles, one hour and 40 minutes away. The Spartans, who are 1-2 on the year, and Catamounts have shared a common opponent, Virginia Tech, who Upstate beat VaTech 64-63.

Thursday against Kent State at 7 p.m. and Friday against Niagara at 5 p.m. will be aired on the Catamount Sports Network with Daniel Hooker on the call. All game information including live stats link, live video link (Kent State game only) and listen live link can be found on the men's basketballs schedule page.

Fans can keep track of the Catamount Athletics through social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Twitter (@catamounts), YouTube (CatamountSports) and Instagram (wcu_catamounts). Additionally, CatamountSports.com will be updated throughout the 2013-14 athletic year.